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Serbian Minister Takes Kosovo Argument to UN

DW staff (jen)August 14, 2008

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic was heading to New York to seek UN support for his country's plan to challenge Kosovo's independence at the International Court of Justice.

https://p.dw.com/p/ExJb
Vuc Jeremic after a meeting of the UN Security Council
Foreign Minister Jeremic will go make his case in New YorkImage: AP

A foreign ministry statement on Thursday, Aug. 14, said Jeremic will submit a resolution to the UN General Assembly seeking an opinion from the Netherlands-based court about the legality of Kosovo's secession from Serbia.

Jeremic, who was set to travel to New York on Thursday will "submit Serbia's official draft of the resolution for a procedure before the UN general assembly," the foreign ministry statement said. "A draft calls for the UN General Assembly to seek ICJ advisory opinion on a legality of the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo."

ICJ opinion is non-binding

The court's opinion would be nonbinding. But Serbia hopes it would avert further recognition of Kosovo and force renewed negotiations on its status. The General Assembly meeting will be held next month.

Predominantly Albanian Kosovo declared independence in February, winning US and other Western support. Serbia and Russia have refused to endorse the split. Serbia, backed by traditional ally Russia, has said the move was a violation of international law.

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